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Some dreams take everything you’ve got. And then they ask for more.

Today, I sat down with Krista Guagenti, founder of Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique, whose story proves what it really means to keep moving—even when the setbacks pile up and the odds feel impossible.

Krista didn’t grow up with a roadmap to entrepreneurship. She was the first in her family to graduate college, worked 90-hour weeks in corporate America, got turned down by banks (and then turned down again), and faced roadblock after roadblock on the way to bringing Panacea to life. Most people would’ve quit. Krista doubled down.

Because when you believe in your vision—even when no one else does—you find a way.

In this episode, we dig into:
 ⚡ Why grit—not luck—is the real differentiator in business
 ⚡ How Krista kept pushing when every door slammed in her face
 ⚡ The messy, non-linear path from Budget Blinds to Panacea
 ⚡ How personal loss solidified her mission to create a space for healing
 ⚡ The future of Panacea, including a major new expansion in Bridge Park

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on your dream, Krista’s story will remind you: setbacks aren’t stop signs. They’re the proving ground.

Follow Krista & Panacea:

• Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique
• Instagram: @panacealuxuryspa
• Tune into Krista’s podcast Serenity and Fire wherever you listen. Also, give her a follow on IG @serenityandfire

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Before you can build a business, you’ve got to build belief.

This week I’m pulling back the curtain on a very special B Lab client of mine—Megan Goodman. Megan came in with a head full of ideas, a ton of passion, and (like so many of us) a little voice in her head that kept saying who am I to do this?

In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to start from scratch—without a clear roadmap. From vision boards to brand kits, from big dreams to tiny first steps, Megan and I dig into how you move past self-doubt and start building something that feels authentic to you.

✨ What we cover in this episode:

• Why belief in yourself always comes before the business plan
• How to find your “first pin on the map” when you want to do all the things
• Why changing your mind (again and again) is part of the creative process
• What happens when you give yourself permission to start small—and grow from there

Megan’s story is proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out to take action. You just have to start.

🎙 And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a new episode.

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Amy Nelson is back! Every time we sit down, I walk away fired up and inspired to do more, be more, and lead with more clarity. This time we dove into women in leadership and how damn hard it can be to walk the line between being “too soft” or “too much.”

We get into:
⚡ Leading with authenticity
⚡ Why being “bossy” is actually a compliment
⚡ Why asking for forgiveness beats waiting for permission

We also cracked open something really close to my heart right now: The B Lab. It’s the engine I’ve been quietly building to help entrepreneurs cut through the noise, get clear on what they really want, and actually start moving. Talking it through with Amy reminded me exactly why I started—because waiting for permission is a waste of your damn time.

Amy, thank you for always bringing your wisdom, your honesty, and your fire to this show. Every conversation with you leaves me better—and I know you'll feel the same.

Got questions for Amy? DM the show on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

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What do you do when someone tells you you’ve only got seven months to live?

If you’re Jason Tharp, you decide to do the exact opposite of giving up. You strip away the masks, you stop apologizing for who you are, and you start spreading joy in the most unexpected ways.

Jason is an author, artist, and cancer survivor who’s beating the odds every single day. In our chat, he shares how a Stage 4 brain cancer diagnosis became the thing that set him free — from self-loathing, from fear, from living small.

We get into:
⚡ The wild story of firing his doctor after being told he’d be dead in 7 months.
⚡ How he went from 400 pounds to reclaiming his health.
⚡ Why he started leaving handwritten notes of encouragement for strangers.
⚡ And the perspective shift that changed everything: cancer isn’t happening to him, it’s happening through him.

This one’s about survival, sure. But more than that, it’s about choosing to really live.

And Jason — if you’re reading this — thank you for sitting across from me and sharing your story so openly. You filled my cup (and then some), and I know you’ll do the same for everyone who listens.

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You can’t plan for the moments that change you, but you can decide what to do with them. That’s what I loved about my conversation with Sarah Gormley.

Sarah is a Columbus local and the owner of Sarah Gormley Gallery in the Short North—and she’s lived one hell of a story. We got into everything: standing on the porch screaming “F***” with her daughter in response to her mom's cancer diagnosis, dating as an adult while living in her childhood bedroom, getting fired by Martha Stewart, and what it’s really like to run an art gallery in a tough market.

She’s also written a book, The Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy, that didn’t even use the word “joy” until the last chapter — which tells you everything about the journey it took to find it.

We talked grief, love, starting over, and the work it takes to quiet that inner critic long enough to build a life you actually want to live. It’s proof that joy has a funny way of showing up when you least expect it.

📚 Grab Sarah’s book HERE.

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Michael Flinner spent 17 years building a successful logistics company—only to walk away and start from scratch with something completely different: The Fluff, a premium pickup-and-delivery laundry service in Central Ohio.

We get into the unsexy realities of building something sustainable, why convenience is the new currency, and the importance of staying “in the mud” when you’re laying the foundation of a business. We talk pricing psychology, narrowing your audience, and how to keep climbing new mountains without burning out.

And somewhere along the way, Michael turned the tables and started asking me the questions—which got me a little fired up (in the best way).

If you’re an entrepreneur in the dreaming stage, stuck in the messy middle, or staring down the next big climb, this one’s packed with perspective, strategy, and a few laughs.

#TheKeriCroftShow #TheFluff #PodcastNowLive #EntrepreneurLife #ColumbusOhio

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I’ve been following Ali Prato for a long time—so having her on the show was a full circle moment.

Ali is the host of Infertile AF and co-founder of Fertility Rally, and she’s been one of the loudest, realest, and most compassionate voices in the infertility space since 2019. In this episode, she shares her own journey with secondary infertility, miscarriage, and IVF—and how she turned it all into a platform that’s helped thousands of people feel seen.

We also get into:

• Her wild career pivot from Playboy editor to infertility advocate
• The kids’ book series she’s writing to help families talk openly about ART (assisted reproductive technology)
• Why she started the Fertility Rally and what it means to create space for all infertility stories

If you’ve ever felt like you were the only one going through it—you’re not. This one’s personal, and I’m so grateful Ali shared her story with us.

🧡 Want to hear more real stories about infertility?
Check out our Infertility Series we hosted back in April—featuring powerful conversations with women who’ve walked the path of IVF, miscarriage, surrogacy, and more.

#TheKeriCroftShow #InfertileAF #AliPrato #FertilityRally #IVFStories #InfertilityAwareness #PodcastShowNotes #WomenSupportingWomen

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You know it’s gonna be a good one when Amy Nelson is in the building—and this month’s Ask Amy is no exception.

We dive into the chaos of summer mom life, building a business with limited time, how to actually create content that works and doesn’t suck up your soul, and why you don’t need to be an AI expert—you just need to know how to ask a good question.

We also end up breaking down Jeff Bezos’ $50 million wedding, the billionaire class, and what it says about the state of the world. So yeah—consider this one a little business, a little dystopia, a little pop culture, and a whole lot of real talk.

This episode is for anyone trying to keep their head on straight while building something that matters—especially in a world that feels completely upside down.

We talk about:

• Content strategy that actually saves you time
• Why reposting is your secret weapon
• How to approach AI without losing your mind
• Jeff Bezos’ wedding (yep, we went there)
• Billionaires, relevance, and staying grounded in your values

Let me know what hits. And if you’ve got a question for Amy, slide into my DMs or shoot me an email at [email protected] 💥

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Let’s talk about ketamine—and not the kind of convo you’d have at a college party.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Dr. David Caldwell and Dr. Melissa Briggs-Phillips of Mindset Integrative Ketamine Care for one of the most powerful, personal, and mind-expanding conversations we’ve ever had on this show.

Together, they’re pioneering a new approach to healing trauma through ketamine infusion therapy (aka KIT)—backed by decades of medical expertise and lived experience. We talk about what it actually feels like, who it’s for, how it compares to psychedelics like psilocybin or MDMA, and the kind of inner peace that’s possible when you finally quiet the noise in your head.

But this episode isn’t just about the science. It’s about grief, forgiveness, masculine vulnerability, healing from scars instead of open wounds, and what it means to start over—again and again. These two aren't just experts. They're the real deal. And after hearing their stories, you'll understand why.

Heads up: My mic was having a moment during this recording, so the audio’s not as crisp as usual on my end—but hang in there, because the conversation is so worth it.

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, or feeling stuck—or if someone you love has—this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Mindset:
Website: mindsetketamine.com
Instagram: @mindset_ketamine

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What do you get when you mix a rebellious heart, a deep-rooted love for real food, and a personality bigger than life itself? You get Benji—and if you don’t know him yet, buckle up.

In this episode, I sit down with the founder of Yellowbird Food Shed, a man on a mission to radically rethink the way we eat. From slinging chickens out of his garage to building a full-blown grocery revolution, Benji’s story is wild, inspiring, and refreshingly honest.

We talk about why most grocery store food is an illusion, how he raised his kids inside the business (literally), and what it really takes to build a family-first, food-conscious life from scratch.

We get into:

• The wild story of how Yellowbird started 
• Homeschooling, screen time, and raising kids inside a business
• How Benji’s wife Sarah is the real MVP of their food-first lifestyle
• What it actually looks like to build a home around intention, not convenience

This conversation will have you laughing, thinking, and maybe even questioning everything in your fridge. 

🔗 Learn more and shop Yellowbird: https://yellowbirdfs.com